Best way to play Go on Mac for beginners?

[Mike Novack]

It seems like there are a lot of options for Go software, but there are always problems whenever I try to download anything. I have OSX 10.6.8. Goban requires a newer version. And Mac Gnu go requires an older version. What's the best Mac software for beginners that will actually work with my computer?

Let's see if we can help "saltyd" with this << didn't know what "compile" meant and I think we should also assume not familiar with being able to work at the command line level >>

a) Saltyd, you imply you'd want Mac Gnu but need an older version for OSX 10.6.8 Have you tried obtaining an older version? Just because a free software web site has its easiest <<click here>> download the newest stable version doesn't mean that people involved with this site can't get you an older version. Maybe not, but most likely they still have the older version around somewhere.

b) Similarly with any other free software you are after. Contact the people involved. Tell them that just source code won't do unless they are willing to teach you how to complie.

c) Somebody here might have the older run execs. Maybe even an installer for them <<I think with just a run exec, no installer, you'd have to be able to work at the command line and need to know more about the innards of Mac OSX 10 to create the right directory, etc. -- I believe it's some version of Free BSD Unix under the hood >>

[kivi]

I am guessing the Goban version you tried and didn't work is 4.3, available in app store.
Older versions of Goban (v3.x) are available here: http://www.sente.ch/software/goban3/

Another old gui is GoPanda (v1): http://pandanet-igs.com/communities/gopanda
But GoPanda needs GnuGo to be installed separately. Goban comes ready to run with GnuGo, and has nicer interface anyway.

[saltyd]

Someone did give me the old version of Goban but it still only works on 10.7, not 10.6.8.....

[Mike Novack]

Someone did give me the old version of Goban but it still only works on 10.7, not 10.6.8.....

It's a matter of getting the right old version. Not just any older version.

Try to get into contact with the humans responsible for the application that you want. Keep in mind that when dealing with the "free software" projects these are volunteers so there isn't likely to be somebody on duty for "help" 7x24. In other words, a little patience is needed.

PS: Which (older) version of Goban did you get? There appear to be several available from the link kivi gave you.

[RBerenguel]

I don't understand. The problem is the Java Web Start cgoban? Because I have 10.6.8 in my other machine and aside from sound, works well. When there was a .jar download of CGoban 3 (and I think there was, but maybe it was Cg2) it also worked.

[Bonobo]

Someone did give me the old version of Goban but it still only works on 10.7, not 10.6.8.....

It's a matter of getting the right old version. Not just any older version.

[..]

PS: Which (older) version of Goban did you get? There appear to be several available from the link kivi gave you.

Yeah, that was me, and I mistakenly provided an early 4.0 version Corrected meanwhile (3.2.12) but I had overseen that kivi had already posted a link to the older versions, and I didn’t know that page existed (didn’t find a link to it on Goban’s main page).

Grtz, Tom

[tasendir]

Gnugo can be compiled in Mac OS 10.6.8, likewise fuego and pachi. I've had them all in my old mac (which is 10.6.8.) They all can be compiled in 10.9.1 without major trouble (did it recently)

I have tried to compile Fuego for osx 10.6.8 but seems missing libraries: (

[RBerenguel]

Gnugo can be compiled in Mac OS 10.6.8, likewise fuego and pachi. I've had them all in my old mac (which is 10.6.8.) They all can be compiled in 10.9.1 without major trouble (did it recently)

I have tried to compile Fuego for osx 10.6.8 but seems missing libraries: (

You'll need Boost, editing some file (IIRC) and patience, but can be done. Didn't say it was specially straightforward, though. A pity fuego is not on Macports or Homebrew